Enjoyed your letter.  You are obviously a man who studies his scripture and is passionate about coming prophetic events.  Most of the doves are, albeit we often see things differently.  Let me offer some different insights, not in an antagonistic or negative spirit, but in a spirit of open and honest Christian debate.

 

My main disagreement centers on exactly what that white horse represents, but to make my point I must put my comments in perspective by outlining (in a bit of a nutshell, albeit a bit lengthy) the whole tribulation time period.  I do agree though that about the time of the white horse, a period of deception (delusion) will also start.  I think it will center on the alien invasion/UFO scenario that we have been so prepped for on the history and discovery channels.  Personally, I think it is the rapture event which will set this in motion, but more on that later.

 

First off, (I might as well get my stance out in the open), I am of the pre-tribulation (more correctly pre-Seals) rapture belief.  I see no evidence that the Seals of Revelations have been as of yet opened.  We do not at this point have a world government.  The United Nations is just a forerunner, not possessing any real power over sovereign nations.  Yes, I know the US and European nations have used the UN as a proxy to make war on certain nations, forcing them to submit to their will, but to a greater extent, these were NATO actions. 

 

Let me break here a moment and discuss this world government which the antichrist (the first beast called Death) and the false prophet (who will be the second beast called Hell) will rule over.  Revelations 17 discusses a group of men called the 10 horns.  Personally, I see them among the financial/commercial elite.  They are the group which are running things in this world today and have been since shortly after WW2, maybe before.  Seemingly, it is this group of secretive men whom Jesus and the OT prophets say hide behind closed doors and go into secret chambers.  Some say they run the world from the 36th-37th floors of the Rockefeller Center. I don't know, but there is without doubt a power behind the official power in Washington and these guys have gone to great lengths to keep themselves out of direct public light.  

 

It's hard for me to speak of other nations, but in the United States, they rule over our monetary supply, own and control the media/press, own and/or control vast amounts of the world's resources and without a doubt control our elections and other important leadership position appointments.  I suspect such is also true in Europe and many other nations.

 

Why do our politicians and military willingly do their bidding?  Actually, it is a simple philosophy.  In this world, money is power.  A politician or a military general is nothing without money and they know it.  You could probably say the same about positive media/press, this image thing, truth is what they say it is, ha.  Satan is the prince of this world and it is his financial system.  If you want the lust of this world, i.e. wealth, position, power, fame etc., the source of that is Satan and those willing to work for him.  If they can use you and you are willing to go along, welcome aboard.

 

Revelations 17:12 says they (the 10 horns) have no kingdom as of yet, but become kings (and rule) for a short period after the first beast comes to power.  That would indicate to me, they are not presidents, prime ministers, dictators or any other position officially over a nation or group of nations (kingdom) as of yet.  Then we progress to verse 17 and here it says they appoint the first beast over their kingdom.  Somewhere between verse 12 and 17, they have formed the world government (their kingdom) over which they appoint the first beast.  They then divide the nations of the world into 10 unions of nations over which each of the 10 horns will rule.  

 

Will it be Obama?  I don't know.  Keep in mind the 10 horns are a deceptive group.  He may turn out to simply be the raiser of taxes which precedes the vile man understanding dark sentences.  My gut feeling is somehow, someway, the throne of England and the office of the Vatican are involved with our 10 horns.   In short, the bottom line is the selection of the first beast (who will rule)  is made after the world government is formed and the nations of the world sign in agreement to it.

 

As of this moment, there are a lot of nations not willing to give up their sovereignty to any world government, in particular the Islamic nations.  In a nutshell, I believe that is what the red, black and pale horses are all about, i.e. world terror to the point of submission to a world government.  We see this theme currently being applied in the U.S. to take away our Constitutional rights and freedoms. 

 

Secondly, we have had no war in which 25% of the people were killed in any particular portion of the world.  WW2 came close in Europe and Russia, but that was before the sign of the Fig Tree spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24, whether you think that the May '48 creation of the nation state Israel or the '67 war in which they gained the disputed territories.  We have had some despot dictators who committed genocide within their nations, but not on the world scale spoken of in Revelations concerning the red horse.    

 

Yes, we have had war, famine, pestilence and death since the earliest days of man and yes, they are definitely increasing along with volcanic eruptions and earthquakes etc.  But, I see these as the early and intensifying stages of the birth pangs that Jesus spoke of.  It is going to get far worse.   

 

Lastly, I clearly see the bride of Christ around the throne in Revelations 5:9-10.  Who else could this be, as they are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and taken from every kindred, tongue, people and nation.  They are made kings and priests and it says they shall reign on the earth (during Jesus' 1000 year kingdom).  It is clearly the same group as the 144,000 first fruit virgins (the bride) found in Revelations 14:1-5.  Seen with the bride and also around the throne are the 24 elders.  These are the group of worthy OT saints (the rye) who were resurrected and ascended with Jesus.  John the Baptist is one of these and John 3:29 tells us he is a friend of the groom (at the wedding).  So will be all the elders.  Both the bride and the elders are immortal (incorruptible) for you cannot ascend to heaven in this mortal body (1 Corinthians 15: 50-53).

(Note: this 144,000 of the bride is not the same as the 144,000 sealed in Revelations 7:1-8, who are also the woman or remnant of chapter 12.  Revelations 9:4 tells us why they are sealed.  It is to protect them from the demon locusts with scorpion type stings who ascend out of the bottomless pit at the 5th Trumpet (1st Woe).  They are sealed because they are mortal and need protection.  During the time of the 6th Trumpet (2nd Woe), they see the 2 Witnesses killed and ascend (along with the Tribulation Saints) and they are afraid.  They are then carried into the wilderness, hidden and protected by angels until the time the foe is defeated.   Their number is the same as the bride because it represents perfection in government (a multiple of 12).  These however will be the future mortal rulers of reconstituted Israel.  The bride will be a part of Jesus' global government of immortal saints). 

 

The rest of Revelations chapter 5 is about praise to the Lamb as he obviously has entered the throne area where the heavenly crowd is waiting.  He is deemed worthy to open the sealed scroll and immediately does so in chapter 6.  It is simple picture.  We see the bride and elders around the throne and Jesus immediately begins to open the Seals.

 

We will get to this white horse, but, first I wish to more less sum up how Revelations unfolds so you might see how this all fits together.  First (for any who might read and not understand), the heavenly Scroll Jesus opens is sealed by 7 Seals.  He opens each in sequence, but the last Seal (the 7th) is broken into 7 more parts called Trumpets and the last Trumpet (the 7th) is broken into 7 more parts called Vials (Vials of God's wrath).  In short, the Trumpets and the Vials are all part of the 7th Seal.  Of these, only the 5th and 6th Trumpets (aka the 1st and 2nd Woes) have a specified stand alone time period.  As for the first 4 Seals (the 4 horses), nothing prohibits them from overlapping, i.e. one does not have to end in order for the next to begin. 

 

Scripture is described as building a house, foundation first, then everything in its place built upon.  Revelations is the grand finale.  You might  itsay the steeple on top of the roof.  Genesis chapter one, creation week is no doubt the first of the foundation.  Embedded in this descriptive 7 day period is not only creation, but more importantly God's plan for dealing with a heavenly rebellion.  The light and darkness in day one may have some physical aspects, but it surely represents good versus evil and more specifically Jesus versus Lucifer (Satan).  It starts with a kingdom divided and we know that God says a kingdom divided cannot stand.

 

This is made more clear by day 4 events in which God the Father creates the physical lights of the universe, i.e. the sun,  moon and stars.  It is on this day in which the Father lays down the gauntlet and the plan, setting a timetable (with a celestial calendar), announcing the winner of who will rule and divide (judge) the kingdom. 

 

To see this, you simply let the sun be the Son (Jesus) and the moon be the bride.  The moon does not have her own light, but reflects the light of the sun.  Note that God gives the moon authority to rule over the night, previously Satan's sole domain in the divided kingdom.  It may be a read between the lines, but the decision is clear. 

 

This day 4 in creation week (a figure of 7) sets in motion all the 40's/400's we see in scripture.  It leads to Jesus coming to earth in the flesh at the end of 4000 years.  Keep in mind he began his ministry by being tested 40 days in the wilderness and ends his ministry by remaining on earth 40 days after his resurrection.

 

If you carefully read this day 4 passage, you will see it is all about the right to rule and divide (judge).  Preeminent in this figure of 7 is the cardinal midpoint divider, the 4.  If you read Revelations 1: 12-13 & 20, you will again see this representation in the 7 candles before throne.  John sees Jesus standing in the midst or more precisely standing in the perfect middle or number 4 position.  Verse 20 says these 7 candles represent the churches and there is a mystery about it (the pattern). 

 

If you examine the menorah candle of Exodus 25: 31-40, which lit the most holy inner tabernacle of Moses, you will see the same pattern.  God told Moses while he was on the mountain (40 days) to make it after the pattern that he showed him.  Again, it was 7 candles with 6 joined to the middle #4 candle. Further, that center candle had 4 almond shaped bowls which held the oil (to light all the candles).  To me, it is a 1 - 4 - 7 pattern, the last 2 important in the battle over right to rule.

 

But, don't think for a minute that Satan is accepting this ruling of the Father.  This battle is going to continue in Revelations and specifically in the 7 Seals and 7 Trumpets.  Look for this same pattern to unfold there.

 

I guess I am finally ready to discuss that white horse.  Throughout scripture, Jesus is depicted as the Alpha and Omega, the first and last, the beginning and end. In Revelations 21:6, after the battle is finally over and Jesus triumphs, he reiterates this again.  I say again, everything in scripture is building to this dramatic finale in Revelations.  All the symbols, all the foreshadows are part of this perfectly engineered building, everything in its perfect place.

 

The Seals, Trumpets and Vials are no different.  Revelations is all about the final years of battle between these 2 giants, each making his chess moves.  It is Jesus who opens the Scroll of 7 Seals and he will make the first move and then he will make the last, just as depicted.   The white horse of the first seal is Jesus' move.  The 7 Vials of Gods wrath at the 7th Trumpet belongs to Jesus.   Those in between belong to Satan and his followers, albeit God does allow him.  Jesus is the master and needs no other moves.

 

Speaking of that, Michael is the commander in chief of God's armies.  It is he who is the restrainer, not the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is meek and mild, a spirit of love.  Satan understands only force and Michael can supply that.  This is why I think that Daniel 10 may be a foreshadow of rapture events.  With that in mind, I will tell you the Holy Spirit will be here during the tribulation, all the way until the 2 Witnesses and the resurrected tribulations saints ascend.  

 

One more thing before I tell you who that white horse is.  Let's put the coming to power of the 2 beasts into their perfect place.  Remember that 1 - 4 - 7 pattern and the battle over right to rule?  Haven't  you noticed how Satan likes to mimic (copy) God's symbols, particularly numeric symbols, even Jesus himself. 

 

 Revelations 6:8 tells us Death and Hell (capitalized, therefore proper names) come to power at the end of the 4th Seal, following the 4th horse.  This is the same pattern as Jesus coming to earth in the flesh at the end of 4000 years.  Death is God's name for the antichrist, the first beast, for he will persecute and kill the Holy Spirit filled tribulation saints.  Hell is God's name of the false prophet who will become the second beast when Satan is thrown from heaven and enters his body, then takes over. 

 

Remember from earlier, it is the 10 horns who appoint the first beast over their newly formed global government.  It first must be formed and the nations of the world submit to its authority.  It makes sense that their coming to power would follow the most profound of God's symbolic patterns, one established in Genesis chapter one and extending to Revelations chapter one.  They have to come to power over their world government at the end of the 4th Seal, just as Revelations 6:8 states.  Between the  2 beasts, they rule the 5th, 6th and 7th Seals until Jesus and his angelic army defeat them. 

 

Following suit, the second beast comes to power after Satan is thrown from heaven (see Revelations 12:7-12).  Note in vs 12 that it says "Woe" to the inhabitants of the earth.  This is a clue as to the timing.  His rule is the "Woes" of the 5th, 6th and 7th trumpets.  He then comes to power at the end of the 4th Trumpet.   He rules the 5th, 6th and 7th Trumpets.  In this battle over right to rule (literally sit on the throne of God), it just can't be any other way.  The genesis of it is found in day 4 of creation (couldn't resist that pun). 

 

Guess that white horse wasn't the antichrist coming to power after all, peaceably or otherwise.  Don't get me wrong.  The 10 horns are hard at work to set up their global government.  It just hasn't happened yet and it is going to take something major to make the nations of the world give up their sovereignty that they have had since the languages were confounded at Babel.  It will take a war, along with major famine, death and pestilence to terrorize the nations so badly they will submit.  After the red, black and pale horses ride, a man talking peace will have some itching ears in the audience. 

 

That gets us back to this white horse.  Everything in the government of Jesus Christ is described as white, no place moreso than in Revelations.   Jesus has white hair, sits on a white horse, conducts his government on a white cloud, gives his saints a white stone and dresses them in white.  The ascensions are all described as clouds, i.e. they are saints dressed in dazzling white.  His return in Revelations 1:7 with his saints are described as white clouds.  The judgment on the last day is described as the white throne judgment.  All way back to Genesis one, Jesus is depicted as light (day) which is associated with white and Satan is depicted as darkness (night) which is associated with black. 

 

There is just no way that Jesus reverses course here in Revelations and describes the antichrist as a white horse, whether he deceptively speaks peace on not.  Like Jesus points out in numerous scripture, those of Satan to include his followers are liars, murderers and thieves, surely not worthy of anything white.  Further, like we pointed out, the antichrist does not come to power until the end of the 4th Seal, following the 4th horse.

 

The white horse is a Holy Spirit outpouring on the left behind.  This is emphatically promised in Luke 11: 5-13.  It is in verse 13 that we see that the bread being spoken of is the Holy Spirit.  This was foreshadowed at the Elijah translation.  Elisha and 50 others knew of his pending ascension.  Elisha went along with Elijah and asked for a double portion of his spirit.  Elijah said it would be his if he saw his mantle return back to earth.  It did and Elisha got a double portion of Elijah's spirit. This outpouring will be double that the apostles received as well.  The tribulation saints will need it as they will be persecuted and killed.   It is obviously highly effective as Revelations 7:9 tells us the tribulation saints are a multitude too great too number.

 

The white horse will result in a worldwide revival which will continue through the red, black and pale horses, even well into the reign of the first beast.  It has a lot to do with why he comes up with the mark of the beast as these Holy Spirit filled Christians are a powerful force which he feels compelled to deal with.  Sadly, scripture indicates all will be killed, many beheaded.  They will however be resurrected with the 2 witnesses.  This will be 7 years after the Holy Spirit outpouring and it too likely on a Pentecost Sunday.

 

 The tribulation saints are the cloud into which the 2 witnesses ascend in Revelations 11:12.  They will attend the wedding supper.  Revelations 20: 4-6 tells us they will reign as priests of Christ in his 1000 year government on this earth and like the bride will not be subject to the white throne judgment.  Theirs is a great reward.  They are the last of the first fruits, the wheat into the barn.

 

Here is a quick synopsis of the time period of the Seals of Revelations.  It begins with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the left behind 10 days after the ascension of the living bride.  This outpouring will be on a Pentecost Sunday.  The Seals of Revelations last 10 + years, divided into 3 each 3.5 year periods (42 months or 1260 days).  You see this is equally dividing that 7 into halves.  If the rapture of the bride is in late spring as scripturally depicted, then expect the antichrist to come to power in the late fall, 3.5 years later, following the red, black and pale horses. 

 

The second beast will come to power another 3.5 years later, in the late spring.  Jesus will come with his saints as depicted in Revelations 1:7 to enter Jerusalem and set up his global government 3.5 years later, in the fall, likely at the Feast of Trumpets.  It will be a triumphal entry.  Now, here is why the tribulation is said to be 10 years in Revelations 2:10 and not 10.5.  Remember, the foe's days are cut short?  Jesus and his angelic army will defeat the foe some 7 months earlier, sometime in the spring, when Satan has gathered his armies north of Jerusalem to do battle with a returning Jesus.  This will leave men 7 months to clean the land before Jesus' arrival with his saints to set up his government. 

 

I guess the last question is then just when do the 2 witnesses arrive?  We can deduct that by some reverse engineering.  We know that the 2 witnesses are here 42 months, their reign the same length as each of the 2 beasts.  Revelations 11:7-14 tells us the 2 witnesses are killed by the second beast and further that it is during the period of the 2nd Woe (6th Trumpet).  The first Woe is 5 months and the second Woe is 1 year, 1 month and 1 day.  Personally, I'm convinced that they will die at the time of Pentecost in the late spring.  By deduction, that tells me they arrive in the late fall approximately 1 year after the first beast comes to power.

 

At this point, the world wide revival of the tribulation saints is beginning to wane.  The main purpose of the 2 witnesses is to battle the 2 beasts much the same as Elijah battled King Ahab and Jezebel. I think the 144,000 sealed is very much their work, but the tribulation saints much less so. 

 

Let me say one more thing about the events of the rapture of the bride.  Personally, I believe it is a Second Passover event, a feast that not only is about the bride and groom, but falls to the day on the 4th Sabbath omer of the Feast of Weeks count, the feast about first fruits.  As such I believe the count of days and the depiction of Hezekiah's Second Passover points to an event which will occur over a specific period of time. 

 

The opening event will be the midnight cry resurrection and ascension of the dead in Christ. I do believe it will occur on a Sabbath day, between Friday sunset and Saturday sunset.  Possibly some earthquake activity may be involved. I do believe at least many will see the ascension.  7 days later  following a week of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (a feast about spiritual cleansing) will be the changing of the living wise bride to incorruptible found in 1 Corinthians 15:50-53.  This is the event described as happening in the twinkling of an eye. 7 more days later, in an inclusive count of days, the living (changed) and wise bride will ascend on a Thursday evening (at eventide), a period still light but after sunset.  

 

In the midst of these stressful times, I do believe we will see that delusion or deception you spoke of.  I figure it will be that UFO/alien invasion thing.  10 days after the ascension of the living bride (and on a God annointed Pentecost Sunday) will be the Holy Spirit outpouring on the left behind who prepare themselves and ask.    

 

I don't know if the rapture will be this year or no.  I continue to hold out hope until summer solstice.  My next watch date would be Friday evening/Saturday June 14-15.  Certainly, no promises, just some hopeful watching on my part.  My antennae would go up considerable if war should break out between Israel and Iran or Syria. 

 

Happy watching.  Keep the faith. 

 

By the way, a little more about that 7 and 4 thing.  Take the English alphabet, also the alphabet of our Europeans brothers.  Number the letters A - Z, 1 through 26.  

God adds to 26, but the first and last letters hold the place value of 7 and 4.  Jesus adds to 74, but the vowels add to 26.  Joshua also adds to 74.  Lucifer adds to 74.  Keep in mind that this symbol I showed you was all about the battle over right to rule and judge.  Christ adds to 77 (think 7 and 7 as in 7 and 7 days).  The vowel here holds the place value of 9, the number of changed (immortal) man, a rotated 6.   By the way, Second Passover is found in Numbers 9 and rapture adds to 99 (think 2 clouds of 9, first the dead, then the living).  Faith and Hope both add to 44. Naw, it can't just be all coincidence (grin).

 

Hang in there Barry and Doves.

 

Steve